Government Art College artists such as Sunil Das, often took to painting landscapes en plein air, or outdoors. They used sketching and painting as a form of travelogue-ing. The bustle of the Front Bazar is palpable as crowds move through the alleys in this painting. Sunlight bathes the valley with the lazy glow of a late morning, casting cool shadows against the bundle of houses. A solitary bullock-cart trudges along the bridge, while long boats await their rowers underneath. The mighty Himalayas stand guard behind the quaint town as it buzzes with activity, blissful in its mundanity. The artist’s attention to detail brings alive the scene; one can almost hear the bells on the bullock cart, the calls of hawkers, the bustle of conversation in the market and feel the warmth of the sun on their skin washing away the cool chill of the mountain air.

The dark hills covered with foliage stand silently on either side of the blue-green river. A tranquil stillness rings through their deep shadows and high peaks, which echo with solitude. Billowy clouds float gently across a cool blue sky. Strokes of white on the canvas create calm ripples over a gentle river. The Teesta glows welcomes the colours of the hills, mirroring its deep greens and darkness within its vast waters. It glows white in the distance, engaged in a camaraderie with the tint of the vast skies above.

Self-taught artist, Indra Dugar spent his childhood in Santiniketan, surrounded by nature away from the bustle of urban life which inspired his landscapes celebrated for their stunning representation of natural beauty. The trees dominate the landscape in this painting. Their imposing figures are set against the soft light of the last embers of dusk. The stature of the trees projects strength and endurance, as they stand tall against the changing light and the changing of seasons. The depth in the shade of green that the artist has used on the trees creates a sense of timelessness. With the darkness of the night enveloping them, the trees almost appear menacing as they stand as a symbol of nature’s endurance.